| People called Rankine have
possessed minor landholdings in Ayrshire in the sixteenth century. It is also recorded as
a first name.
RANKIN: The Rankins were hereditary pipers to the MacLeans of Duart. After the Chiefs of Duart lost their possessions the Rankins became pipers to the Lairds of Coll (also MacLeans). The last of the Rankin hereditary pipers emigrated to Prince Edward Island. John MacCodrum the Uist Bard who flourished during the 18th century refers to the Clan Duille (as the Rankins were anciently called) as among the leading pipers of the day. When Dr. Johnston made his tour of the Hebrides with Boswell he was entertained by MacLean of Coll whose piper, one of the Clan Duille, played before the Doctor. There was also a family of Rankins in Ayrshire where persons of the name were small proprietors before the end of the 16th century. John Rankyne was a burgess of Glasgow in 1456. In the 17th century in the records of the Scots Guards in France we have Ranequin Kennedy. The name probably derived as a diminutive ('KIN' added) of a name similar to Randolph. The Irish recorded it as Raincin. There is no clan Rankin as such, therefore their Chief is the same as the MacLeans of Duart. There is a Rankin tartan, first recorded in 1882, but it is not readily available so the MacLean of Duart may be worn.
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